Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-08
EXPLAINING THE ESTlMaTES.
Talks with District Officials.
WHY rKNs FOR IMPROVEMENTS MAINTENANCE AN
swEKFNa OF STREETS HAVE BEEN rNcRKAsRp.

WHY rrKNs FOR IMPROVEMENTS, MAINTENANCE AND
swREPISa OF STREETS HAVE BEEN INcRKAsKp.
The District Commissioners do not expect that
their schedule OF street Improvements viii satisfy
everybody. Commissioner wheatley said to-day:
There are not three men In this city who could
sit down and prepare a list OF streets TO be i'm
proved that would be satisfactory to every one
There Is always some one who complains that his
street or section has been sighted or neglected.
Since the publication OF the Commissioners esti-
mates, especially those for the improvement OF
streets In THE STAR last Thursday, growlers have
oesieged the District Commissioners Office in force
INCREASED AMOUNTS ASKED FOR STREET WORK.
1t will be noticed. by comparing the estimates for
the next fiscal year with the appropriations for
the current fiscal year that there Is an Increase in
many instances OF 100 per cent. I'm the estimates
Tor certain accounts. This is eSpeSally noticeable
In the street and sewer divisions OF the engineer
department. In the former case the Commission
ers ask for $4o09l9 more than was appropri-
ated for street work last year. The item for
large increase or $4,000 in a total OF 500. .Ooo
For the maintenance OF county roads the
Commissioners ask for s29, 900 more than was APP
pr0prlated last year and for the construction of
county roads, $4,000 more. The account for main-
tenance OF streets, avenues and alleys contains
Increase OF $4,000, in total $50 o0O and there
is the same percentage OF increase In the item for
sprinkhng, sweeping and cleaning streets, avenues
and alleys.
IdS lNChEASE WARRANTED BY THE LARGE REVENUE
EXPECTED.
This large general increase was noticed by a STAR
reporter, who asked Commissioner Wheatley the
reason Tor II. He said that the action or the COM
mlsslOnerS was warranted by the anticipated
large increase in the revenues OF the District.
THE WEST WASHINGTON STREETS.
In reply tn reminder that he had objected TO the
adoption OF the schedule OF streets be improved
In West Washington, as prepared by the Citizens
Committee OF One Hundred, Mr.. Wheatley said:
"My reason was, as was published in THE STAR at
the time, that they had provided Tor ali the
streets In the western half OF that section and had
done nothing for the eastern half" He said that
as the matter has been arranged more money is
estimated ior the western hall than was expected
by the people interested In that section, even after
the amount necessary for the improvement OF 35th
street 70 the Tenleytown road, OF one square on
Q street and two squares OH 2Sth street, In the
eastern part, had been included In the estimate
Tor West Washington.
THE STREET SWEEPING ESTIMATE.
Capt. Eugene Griffin, vi the engineer depart
ment, who has charge OF the street DIVISION was
questioned by the reporter as to the reasons for
the increase In the departments under his super-
Vision. In explanation OF the street sweeping
Item ne said that he had last year recommended
certain necessary increase in this appropriation,
which, however, Congress did not approve. This
year he asks Ior enough to make up that deficit,
and also TO provide Tor the large natural Increase
In the amount or work TO be performed under this
head. As street grows In importance, as the
traffic upon II Increases IL becomes necessary 10
give IL greater attention, and n larger sum OF
money must be spent In Keeping II In good order
and condition. With the growth OF the city there
Is prOportionate growth In the Importance OF
various streets, and where a few years ago cer-
tain street Was placed upon The schedule for tri-
weekly sprinkilng, sweeping and cleaning, this
year II may become necessary to TRANSFER IL 10 the
daily schedule. Also. every year there is large
ADDITION TO the total numUer OF square yards of
streets TO be cleaned, and the contract price for
work continually changes.
MAINTENANCE OF STREETS.
Captain Griffin said, in relation TO the mainten-
ance OF streets, that In the last four years the
average appropriation has been $4,000, whereas
Tor the same period preceding IL had been $4,000
With tnis moaey the District Commissioners are
obliged TO take Of ali the In city.
IL Can readily be seen that they are unable TO give
adequate attention TO the outlying streets. There
Is not money enough TO do tue work. Last year
The Commissioners succeeded in having Congress
separate the approximation for the con-
SLructtUn and maintenance or county
roads, and this year they form two distinct and
separate items. Capt. Griffin regards this as an
Important consideration. They are naturally dis
Why they should be combined BY the present
system he believes the Commissioners will be en-
abied
TO KEEP THE ROADS IN BETTER CONDITION
than they could under the Old order OF things. All
authorities agree that the system OF making gen.
eral repairs Is far more costly than that con-
tinuOus repairs and that macadam and gravelled
roaus must be Kept constantly In repair 1f tneir
i
prlatluns are Jumped together the Commissioners
Ind II hard to divide len equltaDIy.
The Extreme Penalty Of the Law.
EUGENE STEINER SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN
TIE ALBANY PENITENT1ARI.
In the Criminal Court to-day Eugene Steiner
alias Eugene de Mallensburg, indicted for the
bezzement or S4.A OF the Metropolitan Insurance
Company OF New York, was called up for sentence.
The district attorney referred TO the that he
had been pardOned on a conviction OF larceny and
q nolle pros. had been entered as to another case
on The understanding That he would leave the
country, anu Dy the Influence OF some gentlemen
connected With the French legation. In view or
these facts he would that the extreme sentence
be Imposed. On being asked III he had any thing TO
Say Steiner said win considerable emotion that
he had deceived his irienuS and deserved no mercy
out yet he would ask mercy. The court Judge
cox remarked that returning TO crime SO soon
after MS release did not ent1lle him TO mercy, and
said the sentence would be three years In the
Albany penitentiary. The prisoner was about TO
fall, great drops or perSplration breaking ouC on
hun, but he Was assisted 10y MI. Joyce Dalli!f To
the marShalS office where he soon regalneu MS
cOmp0Sure.